Taming The American Car – March 14, 2018

Is there any technology that we love more than our automobiles? Come hear about Taming The American Car; the rules of the road that fueled innovation in the face of competition, constraints, and working for the common good. An informal evening with Virginia Tech historian Dr. Lee Vinsel. Cars, cocktails, and curious minds.

Wednesday, March 14, 2018The Broadberry at 2729 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 232205:45 Doors Open 7:00 Dr. Vinsel’s car talk7:30 to 8:00 Q&A DiscussionThis program will be filmed. By attending this event, you consent to the recording of your likeness, image, and/or voice and authorize The Community Idea Stations and Virginia Commonwealth University to use photographs, video, and audio recordings containing your likeness, image, and/or voice in any medium for any purpose.

Lee Vinsel, PhDAssistant Professor of Science, Technology, and Society at Virginia TechDr. Vinsel grew up among abandoned steel mills in the rust belt town of Joliet, Illinois. The mascot of his high school was “The Steelman” — the name given to a statue originally titled “Science Advancing Mankind,” which had been built for the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago. When in High School he watched the movieClueless (Paramount Films) and thought, “who’s this Nietzsche guy?” that one of the film’s characters was reading poolside during a memorable scene. That question ignited his mind and led him to earn a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Illinois. He then went on to earn M.S. and PhD degrees from Carnegie Mellon University, where most of his work was supported through a National Science Foundation funded by Carnegie Mellon’s Climate Decision Making Center. While teaching at Stevens Institute of Technology, he co-founded a global research network called The Maintainers, which is dedicated to the study of maintenance, repair, upkeep, and ordinary work with technology. (Read the first essay on this topic hereon Aeon, “Hail the Maintainers”.)

This Science Pub RVA program is sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Joel Dugan, with additional support from The National Science Foundation (grant #1611953), individuals like you who kick something into the beaker, and our venue host The Broadberry who invite you tolearn about hosting your special event in their rocking space.

ANSWERS TO A FEW FAQs

Are these events for scientists?Quite the opposite. Science Pubs are specifically created for non-scientists.

How do I get there?Publictransit is always a good idea.Click here to plan your GRTC trip Insist on driving? Consider carpooling, click here for a map, look for oneof the 15 spots marked for The Broadberry in the lot adjacent to the Exxon, or park in the Children’s Museum lot across the street.

Do I have to be 21?All curious minds 18 and over are welcome at this month’s venue.

Will there be food? Yes! The Broadberry would love to serve you something tasty in addition to quenching your thirst. While purchasing food and drink is optional, you might not want to pass up their tacos, burgers, and other fab fare.

What time should I arrive?Anytime between 5:45 and 7:00 pm, when Dr. Vinsel will have the mic. In anticipation of a full house, we recommend arriving by 6:30 pm. Registration required — Seating on a first-come basis. Click here to register

I don’t drink alcohol; do you ever have any non-pub events?You won’t be the only one not drinking a pint! Pub is in our name; but sipping on a glass of water is completely copacetic. Our focus is more about enjoying the night’s topic and each other, and less about whatever liquids are in hand.

How much is it?Attend for free or donate what you can. $5 suggested per person — Look for the beaker on the welcome table.